The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1887-01-18


drels were paid off with lead instead
Of gold But it is fact that, as a
@rule, they ended their unusually short
lives, not by the pistol, but by the
rope. Still there have been except
lonal cases where the robber has met
his match, and the following is one.
A certain nobleman, whom shall call
Lord A. las / forget his real name),
was wont to declare that no highway
man should ever rob lin; and it would
appear that this bit of bravado got to
the ears Of the robbing fraternity.
For, as the story goes, one night, as
his lordship was travelling in his car
riage. q highwayman rode up, and
thrust a pistol through the window
before Lord 4. could seize one of his
own-albeit he had a brace close to
his hand. Demanding his money or
his life, the rascal added sneeringly,
L think, my lord, you've declared that
no highwayman should ever rob you"
True, replied thenobleman, looking
steadily through the window, nor
should l let you rob me now, ,CeTe 1t
not for that dark figure behind y0u" Now,
there was really no such thing as a
''dark figure" but the words staggered
Aaevillain. and he Involuntary turned
4pd glanced behind him. 1t was but
for a moment, but that moment was
enough: Lord a raised his pistol.
fired and shot his assailant dead.
To return. however. to Nevison.
Continuing his evil courses. he was at
last apprehended, thrown into Leices-
ter goal, put IN irons, and strictly
guarded. But the management of
prison IN those days was very differ
elt from what 1t Is now, and, In spite
81 all the precautions taken to prevent
his escape, he did escape, and in the
following ingenious manner: viii
lam had certain trusty friends, and
one day two or three Of them We're
allowed to pay him visit. One Of
these gentlemen was Tor professed to
bel a doctor; and he, after seeing
William, gave out to the prison au-
thorities that their captive had got
the plague, and that, if he were not at
once removed to a larger room, where
he might enjoy fresh air. he would not
only perish himself, but communicate
n the disease to all the inmates Of the
Jail. This frightened the jailer's wife
immensely. Thanks to her, William
was removed to a larger apartment,
into which she prohibited her hus-
band from ever entering. The pris
oner and his friends had. therefore, a
good opportunity of concocting their
plans, and carrying out most re
markable scheme The doctor came
twice or thrice a day to see his patient,
and after a time declared the case hope
!. less. At last a painter was brought
IN. VINO painted Williams body all
over with spots, similar to those pro
duced by the real plague: and few
days later-having first given his
friend a sleeping draught- the doc
tor" informed the jailer that poor
William was dead. There was a sort
By Of inquest on the body, but the coro-
ner's jury burst not approach 1t, so
great was their fear Of infection The
verdict was that the prisoner had died
Of the plague. On this his trusty
friends at once demanded his body,
and had 1t carried out of the jail in a
coffin You may be sure William did
not remain long in the coffin after
they got 1t out Of sight of the prison
walls.
The coffin adventure only rendered
Nevison more callous and daring in
vice than ever Once more a high
waynnan, he renewed his depredations
with increased vigor, informing the
carriers and droyers who had been in
the habit Of paying him blackmail be-
fore his incarceration that he must
now increase their rents in order
to refund his expenses in jail and his
loss of time. 1t was at first supposed
that it was Neyison's ghost, who car
RED on the same pranks that he had
done during his lifetime; but the iailer
began to doubt there being any truth
in such an idea, and finally offered
go reward to any one who should re
store his late prisoner.
Resolved TO visit the capital New
son set out on a journey thither On
the road he met a company Of canting
beggars, pilgrims and other idle vaga-
. bonds; and for some time he contin-
ned IN their company. The life they
led struck him as being such a merry
one that, at last, he suggested their
receiving him as a member Of their
honorable fraternity" on which the
leader, after applauding his resolu-
ton, addressed him as follows; DO
not we come into the world arrant
beggars, without a rag upon US? And
do not we all go out Of the world like
beggars, saving sheet over US? Shall
we then be ashamed to walk up and
down the world, like beggers, with
old blankets pinned about us? No,
no, that would be shame to us, in
deed. Have we not the whole king
dom to walk in at our pleasure? Are
!